Tag, I'm It!

I've been tagged by Ranna at Only Shallow to list seven songs that I'm currently listening to. Since music is a great love, perhaps only second to fashion, I'll gladly take this tag. Here goes:

• Danzig II: Lucifuge: Long Way Back From Hell - Danzig has been accompanying me on many bus rides lately. I just put in my ear buds, turn it up and pretend all the crazies on the bus aren't trying to talk to me.
• One Day As A Lion - There are certain songs that define a point in everyone's lives. An album that you play over and over, or a song that reminds you of a certain time and place. Rage Against The Machine always holds a special place in my heart for those reasons so I'm excited to listen to Zack de la Rocha's new project. I've just started listening to this EP so I don't know if I can pick just one song.
• People in Planes: Beyond the Horizon: Pretty Buildings - I love, love, loved their last album so I'm super excited about this new one. It only came out this week so I haven't had much time to listen to it over and over like I want to. If the early single is any indication of what is on the album I have a feeling I'll be wearing this one out.
• The National: Um, pretty much every song - I was a bit late on discovering this band. The first album I heard was Boxer, their latest album. I fell in love with it instantly. After seeing them live earlier this year, I've started delving into earlier albums and I'm wishing I'd discovered them a long time ago!
• The Casting Out: Go Crazy! Throw Fireworks! - OK, this is turning into a list of albums rather than songs. I don't think this album is technically available here yet. Luckily, I was able to get my hands on a copy. I was an uber fan of Boysetsfire and since this is the new project from BSF singer Nathan Gray, it was only natural that I'd love this too. (BTW, this is not the new album's cover art)
• My Morning Jacket: Evil Urges - Yes, I have officially given up on picking just one song. If you even think you might sort of like MMJ, I implore you, you must see them live. I saw them just last week at Constitution Hall in DC. For the third time. They do not disappoint.
• Radiohead: In Rainbows - I think I'm a Radiohead fan for life. This album is perfect for the rainy days we've been having lately.
• Travis: Something Anything: J Smith - Travis is one of my all time favorite bands (Fran Healy is one of my all time favorite crushes). This album hasn't come out yet but I've been listening to the two songs previewed on their site over and over. I can't wait to hear the rest.

I guess that's eight songs, er, albums. Just chalk it up to my OCD kicking in. I needed an even number of album covers in my collage to make me happy so you got a bonus album on the list. :)

Vintage Finds

I just realized that I haven't shared some of my favorite vintage finds of late. It seems that the vintage gods have been on my side as I've finally found several things for which I've been searching for months. I've also been stockpiling things for cooler weather. I actually wore a pair of newly thrifted green suede boots out of the house last night and they were perfect. Sorry, no photos of those yet. Later, I promise. In the mean time, here's a collection of photos I'd like to share with you of some of my favorite finds.

• I've been on the lookout for a vintage train case for ages. I see them on EBay all the time, but haven't ever placed a bid. I really wanted a robin's egg blue one, but I found this olive green one and it'll do just fine. I'm going to use it as a sewing case (I guess that means I need to start sewing!).
• This black leather mini Gladstone bag is perhaps my favorite find in weeks! I've been coveting Effie's perfect one ever since she first showed it. I'm always searching for them on EBay but they all seem to be located in the UK (why is that?) and go for a pretty penny. This one opens up to reveal the prettiest vintage fabric lining. Love!
• I've been collecting vintage hats. The black velvet one is from the 30's and will look perfect with a feather in the band. The tweed fedora has found a permanent home with my boyfriend and, I must say, is a perfect fit.
• I'm excited to try out this vintage Polaroid Land camera. I actually have some 669 film left over from some Polaroid transfers that I did a while back. I hope it works!
• Shoes for autumn in every shade of brown a girl could want. I can't wait to pair these with tights and wool skirts.
• This bakelite rose necklace is a pretty shade of burnt orange.
• I felt like I'd run across a lost treasure when I found this collection of vintage handkerchiefs. They are all so delicate and feminine with floral prints and embroidered scalloped edges. The ones with the dogwood prints are my favorites, of course.
• A cream colored 50's blouse with a rounded collar and decorative button placket on the front. This is the exact blouse I've been searching for! It even zips up the back.
• A swingy corduroy jumper. An autumn wardrobe must-have.
• Sweater vests. My new obsession. I can't wait to figure out all the ways I'm going to wear these. I'm working on a Four Ways post with the argyle one. I'll post it soon!
• This wool jumper reminds me of one in the new Built By Wendy collection. I shortened it and added the ethnic embroidered belt. I actually found several jumpers like this and the others are sitting in my to-sew pile and will go up for sale in the store.

(If you'd like to see these photos a bit bigger, you can go to my Flickr photostream)

New at Sally Jane Vintage

It's that time again! Here's your first look at some of the pieces that will be posting for sale in the store tomorrow. Fall dresses, wool skirts, pretty sweaters, mod boots and mary-janes and so much more! When they're gone, they're gone so if you see something you like be sure to bid. Thanks so much! Lots of love - SJ

Sewing Schmewing

I’ve been bitten once again by the sewing bug as happens from time to time. I’ve taken a few sewing classes and possess some basic sewing skills. I can sew a straight seam, install a zipper and have even set a sleeve. The thing that I lack the most is the patience to see the project through from beginning to end. There’s a particular dress pattern that I was itching to tackle all summer but every time I took the pattern pieces out of the package I was instantly panic stricken and stuffed them right back into their envelope. I’ve decided that to get back into the sewing groove I should start easy. Instead of trying to sew a garment from scratch I’ve been making a list of pieces to be on the lookout for at thrift stores that I can alter and experiment with without worrying about ruining an entire bolt of fabric. A few of my ideas are:

• Finding high waisted 70’s skirts and shortening them into swingy mini-skater skirts.
• Using the leftover fabric from the hem of the skirt to make some sort of suspenders (or braces depending on where you’re from!) to button onto the waist of the skirt.
• Finding worn-in flannel shirts and taking in the side seams and shortening the sleeves to make skinny button downs.
• Finding high waisted pants to cut off into shorts. Something like these.

In the mean time, enjoy this collection of photos from Iowa State University Library Special Collections' photostream of young women learning the ins and outs of garment construction, from studying textiles to draping to weaving their own fabric all the while prim and proper in their sweater sets and circle skirts.

What I'm Wearing

dress: H&M
socks: Undercover
shoes: vintage
sunglasses: vintage Rayban
purse: vintage
hair clip: made by me

We were stuck indoors for most of the weekend as Tropical Storm Hanna drenched us with inches of rain but we were able to get out Saturday night and drive to Delaware for dinner with friends.

Mine, Mine, Mine!

I’m not in the habit of posting photos of designer collection that are completely out of my reach – both physically and financially. However, I’m quite taken with the A/W 08 collection from Mine. I've got a serious jonesing for that embroidered bow necklace (I'm racking my brain to come up with a DIY remake). Rather than wax poetic about the line’s finer points I’ll let the official press release do the talking:

Katherine Pont was born in Sydney and moved to London after graduating from an honours degree in painting and drawing at the College of Fine Arts. She has lived in the UK for seven years, and has been designing her independent label Mine since 2003.

Inspired by surrealist silent movies and Aztec geometric aesthetics, the new collection, entitled "Elsie Moved in Circles", is born from a 1920s fantasy, when swing and jazz met the city lights of skyscrapers and smoky eyes. Ensembles could be imagined for the starlets of silent cinema.

The art deco shapes of modernist buildings create an Aztec inspired pattern enhanced by lazer-cut leather trims. The collection is subtle in its glamorisation; the soft illustrated digital prints on layered sheer silk cottons are combined with hammered silk, drapey jacquards and wool jerseys. Tailoring hints are embellished with embroidered bows, square buttons and checks like windows, while quilting echoes harlequins and pleats are like the tiers of a building.

What I'm Wearing

dress: vintage slip worn as dress
tights: UO
shoes: vintage
hat: vintage
purse: vintage
flower pin: H&M

While I'm working at home, I'm usually parked on the couch, cat in the lap with the TV tuned to TCM. I've been catching so many great movies lately. One day there was a Barbara Stanwyck marathon (if you haven't seen Baby Face, you're missing out!), the next day a Katherine Hepburn marathon. I'm looking forward to the upcoming spotlight on Kay Francis. Even when I'm too busy to actually pay attention to the story lines I'm drawn in by the wardrobe and styling of the movies. You'd think the whole world used to live in floor length, bias cut satin gowns! In other words, I'm up to my ears in vintage movie inspiration and I think it's beginning to show.